23 January 2009

Considering my political leanings, it would be a "convenient truth" if I were getting out of the Navy because of Obama's inauguration, but I made this decision long ago in about 2006 while on my second deployment somewhere underwater in the Pacific. I'm grateful there's people that stay in and go on to become senior officers, but it's not for me. I don't hate the Navy or anything, and I hope people out there consider serving in the Armed Forces or consider making the military a career. The best way to describe it is kind of like the Zipper ride at the state fair: Lots of ups and downs, you vomit up corn dogs, some angry carney yells at ya, glad to see it in the rear view mirror, but you're happy you did it. Tomorrow is where I get to hear the two sweetest words in the English language: "Honorable Discharge".

Congatulations. I CLEARLY remember the day I signed out on terminal leave, and got my DD-214. I walked out of central outprocessing and threw that gay-ass beret in the trash can. Some MAJ yelled at me as I was walking across the parking lot to my truck, and when I held up my DD-214, he shut his mouth and kept walking. 20 years of putting up with bullshit rules, (face it, some rules ARE bullshit) and that was the only transgression I ever made.

Congratulations. Best of luck in your transition -- it sounds like you have some wonderful, meaningful and challenging lined up.

Please don't stop blogging. I have enjoyed your very unique voice -- an unusual reasoned voice in the midst of an otherwise knee-jerk conservative community. I believe you are a true "middle-of-the-roader," in a time of unfortunate hard partisanship.

Congratulations Tray,The "Mick" once told me that you meet all sorts of people while in the service. The ones that you want to keep in touch with are also the same people that you would enjoy working with once the uniforms are gone. You're definitely someone I'd like to work with again, class act all the way.

I see good things for you in the future; especially Thailand. If you're not doing anything in 2010, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to return to the rock; Connery style. ;)

Stay AWAY from those Seattle Skanks you so longingly wrote about in the past. I also wouldn't recommend Thailand, the Feds wrote laws against Sex Tourism, and they (we) enforce them. On the other hand, maybe you SHOULD go seek out those Seattle Skanks.

Best of luck to you in whatever future you choose to pursue, whether it be simply relieving physical needs, or employment. Go to it, son, you've earned it.

Who is This Clown?

Nixon is a former Navy guy who did a couple of deployments at sea and spent a year in Iraq. He enjoys reading and writing about the strange intersection between war, politics, and the media. He enjoys being an ex-pat and NGO employee in Bangkok for the time being.